Career moves

Building off its goal to be an "employer of choice," South Carolina Federal Credit Union launched its "Blue Buddy" program this year. The "buddy" is this scenario is a tenured employee who befriends and looks out for a new hire.

At Mountain America Credit Union, senior leadership is accessible to all 1,666 employees, including those newly hired. And while formal tools are in place for employees to voice concerns and submit feedback, many times these exchanges are handled in person at morning meetings or special lunches.

With more than 440 employees in the millennial generation – a solid 62% of its total staff – Michigan State University Federal Credit Union recently enhanced its leadership and pre-management development programs to include enrichment courses on financial topics such as budgeting, purchasing a vehicle or buying a home.

In its 67 year history, Fairwinds Credit Union has never laid an employee off. "Although we're a financial institution, we're not all about numbers and figures," said Fairwinds CU's Vice President of Human Resources Administration Lindsey LeWinter. "We're a family and deal in people and stories."

From tying the knot to working out, these institutions from our annual Best Banks to Work For list have given their employees inventive ways to earn extra time off.

From "beer cart Thursdays" and special loan discounts to concierge services and free massages, credit unions are pulling out all the stops to recruit and retain top talent.

F.N.B. in Pittsburgh plans to retain some Yadkin Financial executives and assign them to key roles after it closes its purchase of the North Carolina bank.

The Florida credit union shakes up its management with a trio of promotions and more CU professionals in the news.

A director at Citizens Independent Bancorp in Logan, Ohio, resigned after members of management chastised him for an email security breach.

New Bancorp in New Buffalo, Mich., has hired Shawna Zawada as controller and principal financial officer, days after Russell Dahl resigned as chief financial officer.

JPMorgan Chase has recruited an IBM executive to oversee its adoption of cloud services.

Opus Bank in Irvine, Calif., has started a public finance division and hired an executive from Umpqua Bank in Oregon to run it.

Union Bankshares in Richmond, Va., said Wednesday that John Asbury, formerly of First National Bank of Santa Fe in New Mexico, will be its next CEO.

Book drives, bike rides and scholarships are just a few of the most recent ways credit unions have been helping the communities they serve.

The $13.1 billion-asset parent company of PlainsCapital Bank named William Furr CFO, effective Sept. 1.

Howard Bank in Ellicott City, Md., has recruited a trio of BB&T executives to grow its commercial business.

As it charts a long-term digital payment strategy, TSYS has hired Karim Ahmad, a management consultant with a background in financial technology, to be as head of global product and innovation.

The Bancorp in Wilmington, Del., disclosed the identities of directors nominated to its board by two investor groups.

The chairman of First National Bank of Santa Fe has accepted additional duties ahead of the bank's upcoming merger.

CUES welcomes Canadian CEO to its board, Florida CEO earns recognition and more CU professionals in the news.